Excellent read. My partner and I made it through the pandemic only ordering delivery three times, relying more on actually picking up our own food from the dozens of restaurants in our neighborhood. Whats really infuriating are the people who use the apps, while at the same time screaming about "dangerous" deliveristas.
I highly recommend giving a listen to the newest episode of "The War on Cars" regarding the current of delivery workers.
I structure much of my life around avoiding phone calls, but I agree that something is being lost with human interaction totally obliviated from the takeout experience.
I used to live by a Thai place in Boston called King & I. The owner would always say its name in this sing-song, accent-inflected way that plays in my head years later. But I would also get a semi-maternal “are you really sure? It’s spicy” line of questioning when I ordered the chicken kra po, and would likewise be able to specify “medium-spicy” for my wife’s order. “Medium-spicy” isn’t an option on the apps.
I thought we were still supposed to tip for pickups? Because someone's job is still to box it up and be at the counter to facilitate the transaction. I try to keep singles in my car (I'm in the suburbs) to tip with, as I'm basically cashless otherwise.
Thanks for the rant (I pretended I could hear your voice).
One thing: a kid I know who delivers pizzas always likes going to the trailer parks, because she gets better tips. When she delivers to fancy homes she will often get stiffed or handed a couple of quarters.
I'm not a "socialist", but why is it that those who struggle so hard to make a living get demonized? All those articles lately about tipping, the iPads asking for tips when it's not "appropriate" and why it's an affront to one's peace of mind? It's as if no one bothers to look hard at the greed that fuels so many businesses. (Sorry for all the quotes. Even language has been debased to the point of meaninglessness.)
Hey Abby. That is a good question and it's truly one I'll never understand. I really think a lot of people have just never had a job where they depend on tips or they're serving people somehow and just generally lack empathy and any class. But I agree about the whole iPad asking for tip thing: if you don't like somebody asking for a tip then I feel like you have some bigger issues you need to deal with.
There you go - class in the Marxian sense. The big one stomps on the smaller one, in everything from siblings to height to sex appeal to the size of one's bank account.
Perhaps if kids were drafted into service rather than the military, they could learn not only discipline but that elusive empathy.
Excellent read. My partner and I made it through the pandemic only ordering delivery three times, relying more on actually picking up our own food from the dozens of restaurants in our neighborhood. Whats really infuriating are the people who use the apps, while at the same time screaming about "dangerous" deliveristas.
I highly recommend giving a listen to the newest episode of "The War on Cars" regarding the current of delivery workers.
https://thewaroncars.org/2024/01/16/the-future-of-transportation-has-arrived-with-your-pad-thai/
I structure much of my life around avoiding phone calls, but I agree that something is being lost with human interaction totally obliviated from the takeout experience.
I used to live by a Thai place in Boston called King & I. The owner would always say its name in this sing-song, accent-inflected way that plays in my head years later. But I would also get a semi-maternal “are you really sure? It’s spicy” line of questioning when I ordered the chicken kra po, and would likewise be able to specify “medium-spicy” for my wife’s order. “Medium-spicy” isn’t an option on the apps.
I thought we were still supposed to tip for pickups? Because someone's job is still to box it up and be at the counter to facilitate the transaction. I try to keep singles in my car (I'm in the suburbs) to tip with, as I'm basically cashless otherwise.
Nice work, Chef.
Thanks for the rant (I pretended I could hear your voice).
One thing: a kid I know who delivers pizzas always likes going to the trailer parks, because she gets better tips. When she delivers to fancy homes she will often get stiffed or handed a couple of quarters.
I'm not a "socialist", but why is it that those who struggle so hard to make a living get demonized? All those articles lately about tipping, the iPads asking for tips when it's not "appropriate" and why it's an affront to one's peace of mind? It's as if no one bothers to look hard at the greed that fuels so many businesses. (Sorry for all the quotes. Even language has been debased to the point of meaninglessness.)
Hey Abby. That is a good question and it's truly one I'll never understand. I really think a lot of people have just never had a job where they depend on tips or they're serving people somehow and just generally lack empathy and any class. But I agree about the whole iPad asking for tip thing: if you don't like somebody asking for a tip then I feel like you have some bigger issues you need to deal with.
There you go - class in the Marxian sense. The big one stomps on the smaller one, in everything from siblings to height to sex appeal to the size of one's bank account.
Perhaps if kids were drafted into service rather than the military, they could learn not only discipline but that elusive empathy.
Agreed. I think people would generally be better humans if everyone had to work for 6 months in a frontline customer service job.